Cover and packing box structure using the same

ABSTRACT

A cover and a packing box structure using the same are described. The packing box structure includes one packing container and two covers. The packing container is formed by folding a folding board, and two opposite ends of the folding board overlap each other to form an accommodation space. The two covers are respectively covered on the top and the bottom of the packing container. Further, each cover is of a three-dimensional structure formed through engagement and having an opening on a single side, such that the packing container and the covers can be easily detached/assembled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 097116256 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on May 2, 2008 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a packing box structure, and more particularly to a cover formed through engagement and a packing box structure adopting the cover.

2. Related Art

A conventional packing box structure includes one packing container and two covers. The packing container is formed by folding a folding board. The folding board at least has three folding lines to form at least four side surfaces. One end of the folding board is attached to the opposite end, and the two ends are fixed by stapling or adhesion, so as to form an accommodation space with a top opening and a bottom opening. The accommodation space is divided into a plurality of compartments by paper board. The two covers are respectively covered on the top opening and the bottom opening. Each cover is formed by a board. The board extends to form erected pieces in accordance with the side surfaces of the folding board at the same number. The erected pieces are folded to stand on the board, and the adjacent erected pieces are fixed by stapling or adhesion to form the cover.

The conventional packing box structure is generally used to carry electronic products, such as mainframe of a server, display, board, or computer host. In the above packing box structure, the bottom of the packing container is covered by a cover, the four side surfaces of the packing container are in a closed state, and only the top of the packing container is in an open state. Therefore, to be accommodated in the compartments of the packing container, the electronic products can only be placed into the compartments downward through the top opening, and to be taken out of the compartments, the electronic products can only be fetched upward again through the top opening.

Due to the above limitations on direction, operators must obey these limitations. However, as the electronic products are both heavy and large-sized, the burden of the operators who have to repeatedly handle the electronic products is increased. Further, for the direction of force application, as it is difficult to apply a downward or upward force, the electronic products may easily fall down by accident when taken out, and thus damages may occur to the electronic products.

Moreover, the packing container and the covers fixed by stapling or adhesion are configured through multi-processes and are not easy to be stacked, thus wasting a lot of space. Further, upon demands, the operators have to break the packing container or the cover, and the damaged packing container or cover can not be reused, thus resulting in material waste and increase of the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The conventional packing box structure with the packing container and the covers fixed by stapling or adhesion is configured through multi-processes, and the formed packing container and the covers cannot be easily stacked, thus wasting a lot of space. Further, the fact that the electronic products can only be taken out or placed in from one direction adds the burden of the operators for repeated handling. In addition, the disassembled cover or packing container cannot be reused, thus resulting in material waste and increase of the cost.

Therefore, the present invention provides a packing box structure which including one packing container and two covers. The packing container is formed by folding a folding board. The folding board has at least two folding lines to form at least three side surfaces. One end of the folding board overlaps the opposite end to form a space for accommodating electronic products, and the accommodation space has a top opening and a bottom opening. Each cover is formed by a base board. The base board extends to form erected pieces in accordance with the side surfaces of the folding board at the same number, and the erected pieces are folded to stand on the base board. Each erected piece has an elongated slot and an insertion tongue respectively disposed on two ends thereof. The insertion tongue of one erected piece is engaged to the elongated slot of the adjacent erected piece to form a cover. The two covers are respectively covered on the top opening and the bottom opening.

In the packing box structure of the present invention, a cover is formed through engagement, and the cover can be easily assembled or disassembled into a flat base board. The packing container is formed by folding a folding board, and the folding board is not fixed by stapling or adhesion, so the folding board can also be easily unfolded into a flat board. Thereby, the flat base board and folding board can be easily stacked to effectively save the space. Moreover, through manner of engagement and folding, the base board and the folding board can also be again made into a cover and a packing container to be reused, thus saving the material and reducing the cost.

In addition, through engagement, the cover has an opening on one side (at a position on the side where the two opposite ends of the folding board overlap each other). Even if the engagement between the insertion tongue and the elongated slot on the side is released, the opening is formed due to the fact that the two opposite ends of the folding board no longer overlap each other. As such, the electronic products can be laterally taken out or pushed into the packing container from the opening. For the operators on the production line, the above handling manner saves energy and is more convenient.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a packing box structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the packing box structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plane view of an unengaged cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the packing box structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a packing box structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of a packing box structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is applicable to accommodate electronic products, such as a server, a display, a board, and a computer host, but not limit to the above-mentioned electronic products. In this embodiment, a mainframe 3 of a server is used as a preferred embodiment instead of limiting the present invention.

The packing box structure of the present invention includes one packing container 1 and two covers 2.

The packing container 1 is formed by folding a folding board 10. The folding board 10 has three folding lines 11 to form four side surfaces 12. The side surface at one end of the folding board 10 has an abutted surface 13, and the side surface 12 at the opposite end of the folding board 10 overlaps the abutted surface 13. That is, the two ends are abutted and not fixed by stapling or adhesion, so as to form an accommodation space with a top opening and a bottom opening. Further, the accommodation space is divided into several compartments 140 by a plurality of partition boards 14. The abutted surface 13 is an end edge of one side surface 12 of the folding board 10, and thus the overlapping of the two opposite ends may actually be the joining of the end edges of the two opposite ends. In this embodiment, the abutted surface 13 is a protruding end edge, but not limited to the form in the figures. Referring to the figures, the accommodation space is a space surrounded by the four side surfaces 12, the top and the bottom of the packing container 1 have a top opening and a bottom opening respectively, and the top opening and the bottom opening are mentioned above.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views of a cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The cover 2 is formed by a base board 20. The base board 20 extends to form erected pieces 21 corresponding to the side surfaces 12 at the same number, and folding lines 22 are respectively set between the erected pieces 21 and the base board 20, such that the erected pieces 21 can be folded to stand on the base board 20. The erected piece 21 has an elongated slot 23 and an insertion tongue 24 respectively disposed on two ends. The elongated slot 23 is a

-shaped opening made by a cutting die on the erected piece 21. That is, the elongated slot 23 includes a long slot 230 and two short slots 231. The two short slots 231, in communication with the long slot 230, are formed by extending from two opposite ends of the long slot 230 and perpendicular to the long slot 230. The insertion tongue 24 is a T-shaped plate cut by a cutting die on the erected piece 21. That is, the insertion tongue 24 has a fin 241 respectively on two opposite sides. The insertion tongue 24 has a plurality of folding lines 240 disposed at intervals between the insertion tongue 24 and the base board 20 and between the insertion tongue 24 and the fin 241, so as to facilitate the folding of the insertion tongue 24 and further make the insertion tongue 24 inserted and engaged to the elongated slot 23 of the adjacent erected piece 21.

The folding line 240 allows the insertion tongue 24 to be folded with respect to the base board 20 and the two fins 241 of the insertion tongue 24 to be folded with respect to the elongated slot 23, such that the shape of the folded insertion tongue 24 matches the shape of the elongated slot 23. Thereby, the folded insertion tongue 24 may be inserted in the elongated slot 23, i.e., the folded fins 241 are inserted in the short slots 231, and the insertion tongue 24 is inserted in the long slot 230.

As described above, the shape of the folded insertion tongue 24 matches the shape of the elongated slot 23, and thus the insertion tongue 24 is inserted in the elongated slot 23. After the insertion tongue 24 is inserted in the elongated slot 23, the insertion tongue 24 is again spread out and restores an unfolded state, so as to be engaged to the elongated slot 23. That is, the unfolded fins 241 are retained at the edges of the short slots 231.

In order to detach the insertion tongue 24 from the elongated slot 23, the insertion tongue 24 is again folded and moves in a direction opposite to the insertion direction, so as to release the engagement between the insertion tongue 24 and the elongated slot 23. Through engagement, the insertion tongue 24 and the elongated slot 23 can be easily joined or detached.

FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 are schematic views of a packing box structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the erected pieces 21 are folded to stand on the base board 20, and the adjacent erected pieces 21 are engaged to the elongated slot 23 through the insertion tongue 24, so as to form the cover 2 having an opening on a single side. The cover 2 is covered on the bottom opening. Thereby, as the packing container 1 is formed by folding the folding board 10, and the folding board 10 itself does not have the positioning effect, if the cover 2 is covered on the folding board 10, the folding board 10 may restore to its unfolded state. Thus, the cover 2 also has the positioning effect in addition to the function of covering.

At the same time, the engagement of the erected pieces 21 of the cover 2 relative to the two opposite ends of the folding board 10 is released, such that the two opposite ends of the folding board 10 do not overlap each other any more, and the mainframe 3 can be laterally pushed into each compartment 140. After the above loading operation is finished, the erected pieces 21 in a released state are made to stand upright, the insertion tongue 24 of one erected piece 21 is engaged to the elongated slot 23 of the adjacent erected piece 21, and the insertion tongue 24 of the adjacent erected piece 21 is engaged to the elongated slot 23 of the former erected piece 21. As such, the two opposite ends of the folding board 10 overlap each other, i.e., the side surface 12 overlaps the abutted surface 13. Further, another cover 2 after the engagement process is covered on the top opening. Additionally, in order to make the packing box structure firmer, the covers 2 and the packing container 1 are fixed by two strips 40, i.e., the strips 40 are wrapped around the packing box structure.

According to the above structure, the packing container 1 and the covers 2 are not fixed by stapling or adhesion. The packing container 1 is configured and positioned by the covers 2, such that the folded folding board 10 may not restore its unfolded state. Moreover, the covers 2 are formed by engagement. Therefore, in practice, without the strips 40, operators can release the engagement of one of the erected pieces 21 of the cover 2, and thus the two opposite ends of the folding board 10 will not overlap each other any more. As such, the mainframes 3 can be laterally taken out of the compartments 140 or laterally placed into the compartments 140 from the detached two ends. Afterward, the two opposite ends of the folding board 10 are made to overlap each other again, and the erected pieces 21 in a released state are engaged again, so as to form a closed packing box structure once more to perform the subsequent operations.

As described above, the packing container 1 and the covers 2 are not fixed by stapling or adhesion, the packing container 1 is formed by folding a folding board 10, and the covers 2 are formed by engagement. Therefore, the covers 2 and the packing container 1 can be disassembled into an unfolded state, i.e., into the spread-out folding board 10 and base board 20, so as to save the stacking space.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic views of a packing box structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the number of the side surfaces of the folding board and the number of the erected pieces are varied and can be (not limited herein) three, four, five, six, seven, or more. As shown in the figures, a folding board 60 of a packing container 6 has two folding lines to form three side surfaces. The number of erected pieces 51 of a base board 50 of a cover 5 is in accordance with the number of the side surfaces. A folding line 52 is set between the erected piece 51 and the base board 50, and thus the erected piece 51 can stand upright. In addition, the position and disposition of insertion tongues 53 and corresponding elongated slots are identical to those in the first embodiment, so the details will not be described herein again.

In view of the above, the packing container is formed by a folding board, and the folding board can be folded along the folding lines into at least three side surfaces. The cover is formed by engaging at least three erected pieces, and the engagement can be easily released to make the cover restore into a flat base board. The flat base board and folding board can be easily stacked to save the space.

Further, the used cover and packing container can be disassembled into a flat base board and folding board, the folding board can be repeatedly folded into a packing container, and the base board can be repeatedly engaged into a cover. Thereby, the material and processing costs can be saved, and the folding and engagement manners are convenient for the operators to disassemble the box structure.

Further, the cover with an opening on a single side makes the two opposite ends of the folding board not overlap each other, so electronic products can be laterally taken out or pushed into the packing container, thus facilitating the take-out and pushing actions and saving the energy of the operators who have to repeatedly perform the above two actions. Moreover, for the direction of force application of the operator, the lateral force application generates a large moment, so the operator may easily apply a force, and the electronic products are also supported by the packing box structure. Therefore, the operator can take out the electronic products from the packing container or push the electronic products into the packing container by applying a small force. 

1. A cover, formed by a base board, wherein the base board extends to form at least three erected pieces, the erected piece has an elongated slot and an insertion tongue respectively disposed on two ends thereof, each of the erected pieces is folded to stand on the base board, and the adjacent erected pieces are engaged to the elongated slot through the insertion tongue, so as to form the cover.
 2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the insertion tongue has a plurality of folding lines, such that the insertion tongue is folded with respect to the base board and inserted in the elongated slot.
 3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein the elongated slot is formed by a long slot and two short slots, the two short slots extend from two opposite ends of the long slot, two opposite sides of the insertion tongue respectively have a fin, and a folding line is respectively set between the insertion tongue and the two fins, such that the fins are folded with respect to the insertion tongue, and the fins and the insertion tongue are respectively inserted in the short slots and the long slot.
 4. The cover according to claim 1, wherein a folding line is set between the erected piece and the base board, and thus the erected piece is folded to stand on the base board.
 5. A packing box structure, comprising one packing container and two covers, wherein: the packing container is formed by folding a folding board, the folding board at least has two folding lines to form at least three side surfaces, the side surface at one end of the folding board has an abutted surface, and the side surface at the opposite end of the folding board overlaps the abutted surface, thus forming an accommodation space with a top opening and a bottom opening; and the cover is formed by a base board, the base board matches the top opening and the bottom opening, the base board extends to form erected pieces in accordance with the side surfaces at the same number, the erected pieces each have an elongated slot and an insertion tongue respectively disposed on two ends thereof, each of the erected pieces is folded to stand on the base board, the adjacent erected pieces are engaged to the elongated slot through the insertion tongue, so as to form the cover with an opening on a single side, and the two covers are respectively covered on the top opening and the bottom opening.
 6. The packing box structure according to claim 5, wherein the insertion tongue has a folding line, such that the insertion tongue is folded with respect to the base board and inserted in the elongated slot.
 7. The packing box structure according to claim 6, wherein the elongated slot is formed by one long slot and two short slots, the two short slots extend from two opposite ends of the long slot, two opposite sides of the insertion tongue respectively have a fin, and a folding line is respectively set between the insertion tongue and the two fins, such that the fins are folded with respect to the insertion tongue, and the fins and the insertion tongue are respectively inserted in the short slots and the long slot.
 8. The packing box structure according to claim 5, wherein a folding line is set between the erected piece and the base board, and thus the erected piece is folded to stand on the base board.
 9. The packing box structure according to claim 5, wherein the packing container further has a plurality of compartments spaced by several partition boards. 